Second Intifada

The Second Intifada (28 September 2000-8 February 2005) was a period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian violence that saw Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip rise up against the Israel Defense Forces in a popular uprising. The uprising was caused by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to Temple Mount, which was disputed territory; Palestinian protesters were dispersed by tear gas and rubber bullets after they threw stones at policemen. Palestinian terrorist groups such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade carried out suicide bombings, shooting attacks, and vehicular rampages, which led to the IDF's response with raids, tank assaults, and targeted killings, often using airstrikes to take out terrorist leaders (such as Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi). 2002 proved to be the most violent year, seeing 135 attacks; 2001 was a close second with 118 attacks. The violence ended in 2005 after both Israel and Palestine agreed to disengage, and the IDF withdrew from the Gaza Strip. Violence decreased in the West Bank after the construction of a barrier by Israel, although this would lead to further tensions with the Palestinians, as would the construction of settlement homes. These tensions would lead to continued sporadic violence, eventually leading to the Knife Intifada.